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Forbes' 5 Richest Hip-Hop Artists

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2014 |

Posted by: Anthony Toto

Diddy once spread the message "Mo Money, Mo Problems" in honor of the late Notorious B.I.G. Based off a recent Forbes survey, Sean "Diddy" Combs' money problems are long gone with an estimated net worth of $700 million. Diddy is officially the world's wealthiest hip-hop artist with Dr. Dre and Jay Z finishing behind him by only a couple hundred million.

With an estimated fortune of $550 million, Dr. Dre has every reason to blast Aloe Blacc's "The Man" during BEATS commercials. After investing in BEATS with Jimmy Iovine, the company controls nearly two-thirds of the headphone market. Finishing in third, Jay Z's foray into the sports world helped increase the size of his net worth to $520 million. Not bad for a Yankee fan that signed Robinson Cano away to the Seattle Mariners for $240 million.

Birdman's "Cash Money Records" is an accurate title for his estimated fortune of $300 million. 50 Cent's deal with Vitamin Water continues to prove itself as a brilliant advertisement deal as he sits in fifth place with over $100 million to his name. These five artists made more money investing in technologies and business ventures than they ever did making music. Not only are they hip-hop icons, they are the business standard for future music stars.

Forbes gathers its data by "looking at past earnings, valuing current holdings, leafing through financial documents and talking to analysts, attorneys, managers, other industry players and even some of the moguls themselves like Diddy, who already has his eye on the next generation."